What is the best way to dry herbs?
For thousands of years, drying was the only way to keep kitchen herbs from spoiling. Now, there are plenty of new products that keep herbs fresh and tricks to store fresh herbs for weeks. So you may be wondering, why should I learn how to dry herbs the old-fashioned way? The answer is simple: it's easy, inexpensive and can keep herbs fresh for years. If you're looking to keep herbs long-term, drying fresh herbs is the way to go.
Getting Started
Timing is everything when it comes to drying herbs. They should be picked before the flowers develop and harvested on warm, dry mornings after the dew has evaporated. Because each herb grows differently, we recommend picking and preparing one variety at a time.
To prep herbs, first you'll need to discard any damaged leaves. Then, strip large-leaved herbs, such as sage and mint, from their stalks. Leave small, feathery herbs, like dill and fennel, on the stalks until drying is complete.
Tarragon, bay, mint, lemon balm, lavender, rosemary and small-leaved herbs such as thyme take well to air-drying, so they are great for beginners.
Drying Methods
No matter which drying method you choose, effective drying relies on abundant dry, fresh air more than heat. A well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight is ideal. If you live in a humid area, the process may be slower, and mold can be a problem. If mold is an issue, we recommend using a small commercial dehydrator.
Air Drying
This method has a rich history in culinary and medicinal lore and was the way most apothecaries and cooks dried herbs back in the day. You can either hang a bunch (approximately an inch in diameter) of whole herbs upside down, as we mentioned before. Once all the moisture has left, then crumble the dried leaves into a container and preserve it. Make sure you use a rubber band to hold the fresh herbs together, as when the herbs dry, the stems will shrink and the rubber band will make sure to keep the bind tight.
The other way to air dry involves plucking the leaves from the stems and laying them out to dry on a rack or tray-just make sure there isn't a breeze that'll blow the leaves away. It's also a good idea to put the vessel in a clean area without a lot of dust. Dark and temperate proves best, though if the only space you have is on top of your fridge, that can work, too. Both air-drying methods take approximately a week to complete, all depending on the natural humidity of where you are. The wetter the air, the longer it will take. A simple crumble test can determine if they are ready. If you take a leaf in your palm and crush it, does it come apart easy? If so, you're ready to store.
Microwave Drying
That's right, you can dry herbs in a microwave and it's pretty easy to do! First, separate the leaves from stems and wash the parts you want to save. Once the greens aren't wet anymore, microwave between two paper towels for one minute. Check and if needed continue to zap in 30-second intervals until done.
Dehydrating
A home dehydrator proves a great way to dry herbs in bulk, especially if your device has mesh inserts, which keep the leaves from falling. Make sure the leaves are clean and undamaged and then put them in a single layer on each tray. Cook at the lowest setting for approximately two to four hours. The hardest part is removing the herbs from the trays. It's best to do this over a clean cloth or bowl so the broken bits can be saved and stored as well.
Oven Drying
Don't have a gadget to dry herbs? No problem! Your regular oven can also do the job. It's best to get a muslin or cheesecloth to lay the plucked leaves on, that way they won't stick to a baking pan. Silicone mats also work very well. Set the machine on the lowest setting and "bake" for around 30 minutes. You'll know they are dried when the leaves crumble easily and there's no pull when you try and tear them.
Recommendation: Best Weed Drying Machine
ECO Farm 5 Trays Herb Drying Machine
The ECO Farm herb dryer features all food grade safe plastic construction, a clear housing to monitor food. This Food Grade Safe Plastic (BPA free) herb dryer is built to ensure 'Super' long lasting reliability & easy cleanup. The temp ranges allow for precision drying.
When using the herb dryer always follow the manual directions, for the correct drying temperature of desired food & prepping if need be. Do not overlap food on trays, this will disrupt air flow & proper drying.
The ECO Farm dryer provides a controlled drying environment, meaning your weed is perfectly dried in less time than it takes to hang dry. All while retaining potency, terpenes, and flavor.
HerbsNOW Herb Dryer
The HerbsNOW dryer gives you the perfect environment to dry your weed every time. Using advanced technology, HerbsNOW provides you with a pre-set, ideal temperature that has been tested exclusively for drying cannabis.
Multi-directional airflow, along with open-weave trays ensures each bud is dried consistently. This also means you do not need to rotate or touch the buds during the drying process.
HerbsNOW provides all of this in a captured environment, meaning you get high-quality, consistent drying in a small, enclosed space. Take back all of the space you've needed for hang drying because HerbsNOW only needs one square foot to give you consistent drying every time.
ECO Farm Weed Dryer
The ECO Farm dryer gives you the perfect environment to dry your weed every time. Using advanced technology, ECO Farm provides you with a ideal temperature that has been tested exclusively for drying cannabis.
Multi-directional airflow, along with open-weave trays ensures each bud is dried consistently. This also means you do not need to rotate or touch the buds during the drying process.
ECO Farm provides all of this in a captured environment, meaning you get high-quality, consistent drying in a small, enclosed space. Take back all of the space you've needed for hang drying because ECO Farm only needs one square foot to give you consistent drying every time.
How Long Does It Take To Properly Dry Cannabis?
There are many factors that affect how long it takes for cannabis to dry.
The size of your buds will obviously affect drying time, as larger, denser buds will take longer to dry than smaller ones. How you choose to trim your plants will also come into play. Remember that the branches of your plants hold the most water, so if you hang large branches, these will take longer to dry than smaller branches or individual buds. Finally, the temperature, humidity, and airflow in your drying space will also have a big impact on the time it takes for your weed to dry.
In general, the drying stage takes about 7-12 days, depending on the above factors. During this time, your buds will lose a lot of water, meaning they'll shrink in size and lose a lot of weight, too.
When Do I Know My Buds Are Properly Dried And Ready To Cure?
There's a simple test to know if your buds are dry: Simply take a small branch and try to bend it. If it snaps, your buds are dry and you're ready to move on to the curing process. If they bend, your buds need a little longer to dry.
Conclusion
You now know the best way to dry cannabis-and how to cure it, if you choose to do so. It may take a while to do, but the fact is that it can be very rewarding in terms of both potency and flavor. So, give it a shot. You might find that being patient has its own rewards.